In early July, China and Russia began significant joint military exercises along China’s southern coast, marking another step in their increasingly tight strategic partnership. These drills, known as Joint Sea-2024, are being conducted in the waters and airspace around Zhanjiang, a city in southern Guangdong province. Scheduled to last until mid-July, the exercises aim to showcase the two nations’ determination and capabilities in addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability, according to China’s defense ministry.
The timing of these drills is alarming. It coincides with a U.S.-led Western defense alliance meeting in Washington, where NATO leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. Japan has also expressed growing concerns over Beijing’s strengthening ties with Moscow, labeling their joint activities as a significant threat to national security.
The Chinese defense ministry emphasized that the drills are part of an annual military engagement plan between the two countries, aiming to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. Both nations have portrayed their relationship as having “no limits,” a sentiment reinforced by their mutual antagonism towards NATO. The ministry stated that the exercises are “to demonstrate the resolve and capabilities of the two sides in jointly addressing maritime security threats and preserving global and regional peace and stability.”
NATO leaders, in a declaration, accused China of being a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This accusation prompted a strong response from Beijing, warning NATO against provoking confrontation and labeling the alliance’s remarks as “irresponsible and provocative.” Beijing “strongly condemns the irresponsible and provocative remarks made by the NATO Secretary General against China, which are steeped in Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and consist of baseless accusations,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.
China has consistently maintained that it is not directly involved in the Ukraine conflict. However, it has faced criticism from Western leaders for providing political and economic support to Russia, including the trade of goods with both civilian and military applications. The collaboration between China and Russia extends beyond these drills; Chinese forces are also conducting exercises with Belarus, another Russian ally, near NATO’s eastern border.
Japan has also raised alarms about the joint China-Russia activities near its territory. Japanese officials have described these maneuvers as a “grave concern” from a national security perspective, highlighting the broader regional implications of the Sino-Russian military cooperation. “Joint China-Russia activities near our borders pose a serious threat to our national security,” Japanese officials warned.
Analysts suggest that these drills are a direct response to the escalating U.S. military presence in the region. The joint exercises underscore the strategic alignment between China and Russia, signaling their readiness to counter what they perceive as Western threats to their sovereignty and regional influence.
The West, particularly NATO and its allies, faces a complex challenge in navigating this deepening Sino-Russian partnership. The joint drills not only demonstrate military might but also signify a robust political alliance aimed at reshaping the global balance of power. As China and Russia continue to strengthen their military cooperation, the West must carefully assess its strategies to address this evolving geopolitical landscape, ensuring that regional stability and global peace are maintained.
We have seen China and Russia coming closer together for some time now, economically through BRICS and expanded trade, politically with China giving cover for Russia when it can, and now militarily through these exercises and with Chinese cooperation in Russian puppet Belarus. China seeks power and dominance. The Biden Administration is letting them get it.